Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury's set to introduce major change to store layouts amid obesity crackdown
The Government plans to introduce a health food standard for supermarkets to make the average shopping basket 'slightly healthier' and ease pressure on the NHS.
Public health experts say that cutting 50 calories a day would lift 340,000 children and 2 million adults out of obesity, which is one of the root causes of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Major supermarkets will have to report on healthy food sales and 'increase the healthiness of sales in communities across the UK', according to the Department of Health and Social Care.
This means that they may have to reformulate products, change the layout of stores, offer discounts on healthy foods, or change loyalty schemes to promote healthier options.
Wes Streeting, health and social care secretary said: 'Our brilliant supermarkets already do so much work for our communities and are trying to make their stores healthier, and we want to work with them and other businesses to create a level playing field.
'Through our new healthy food standard, we will make the healthy choice the easy choice, because prevention is better than cure.'
He told Sky News that the plans were not 'nanny statism' but a 'world-first approach'.
The health department said that many supermarkets 'want to do more to make the average shopping basket healthier, but they risk changes hitting their bottom lines if their competitors don't act at the same time.
'The new standard will introduce a level playing field, so there isn't a first mover disadvantage.'
It is the latest attempt by central government to push supermarkets into promoting healthy food.
In 2022, supermarkets were banned from displaying products high in fat, salt and sugar in shop entrances and till areas.
A ban on junk food adverts targeting children, which was due to be introduced in October, is set to be delayed until next year.
Research by Which? Shows that three in five consumers said they support the Government introduced health targets for supermarkets.
Some of the UK's biggest supermarkets have welcomed the announcement
Ken Murphy, Tesco chief executive, said the supermarket giant had called for 'mandatory reporting for all supermarkets and major food businesses and why we welcome the Government's announcement on this.
'We look forward to working with them on the detail of the Healthy Food Standard and its implementation by all relevant food businesses.'
Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury's added: '[The] announcement from Government is an important and positive step forward in helping the nation to eat well.
'We need a level playing field across the entirety of our food sector for these actions to have a real and lasting impact.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Never buy deodorant again thanks to a 20p a go Boots buy that STOPS you sweating – yes even in this heat
A BEAUTY whizz has shared her top tip to put a stop to smelly pits this summer. Elle McNamara (AKA Bambi Does Beauty) took to social media to share her summer hack just in time for the hot weather. 3 The 34-year-old revealed that the buy stops your armpits from smelling, and it works even better than deodorant. In the clip, she said: "You know when people say this beauty tip is going to change your life? "Well this one actually will. Personal Hygiene Tip 101. "If you use this face wash on your underarms, you won't even need to wear deodorant." She recommended using a shower gel with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide. She said the product, which is often used to treat bacterial acne, also kills the bacteria which causes your sweat to smell. Instead of using it on your face, Elle recommended applying it to your underarms for a few minutes, like a face mask, before washing it off. She added: "For my sweaty gals who want a non-stanky summer! "Just make sure to use a separate washcloth to remove it cos benzoyl peroxide stains the life out of everything." It's best to use a 4 or 5% product as any stronger may cause a rash under the arms. My nose is permanently red after sunburn She also recommended using it just once a week and it should be enough to keep the smell at bay. You can buy the face wash Acnecide from Tesco for as little as £10 and it will cost less than 20p a go. The clip went viral on her TikTok account @ bambidoesbeauty with over 734k views and 31k likes. People were quick to thank her in the comments. One person wrote: "Yes, it definitely works but you need to wash it off super well otherwise it's going to stain your clothes!" How to keep cool in hot weather Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS... Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep. Another commented: "They also have a spray that works well." "Tried it - works like charm! especially in the summer," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "It most definitely works 100%, I only use it like 2 times a week and it's magic." "It's amaaaaaaazing, hands down beats any product for sweat,' claimed a fifth
Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
GP reveals exact number of drinks it takes for most people to feel hungover...and drunk
An NHS doctor has revealed at what point you should put down the wine if you want to avoid a hangover. According to GP Dr Bhavini Sha, four standard glasses of wine, or two and a half pints of beer, is enough to make you feel dreadful the following day. Although this amount is likely to land you with a roster of classic hangover symptoms, just half a medium glass can make you somewhat drunk, Dr Sha warned. 'One unit of alcohol [half a medium glass of wine] increases the heart rate, expands blood vessels, and gives a slight "buzz" which commonly makes people feel more sociable or talkative', she told The Mirror. 'But after four to six units [two to three medium glasses], alcohol begins to impact your nervous system, decreasing reaction time and affecting areas of the brain associated with decision making, resulting in poorer judgement and potentially more reckless behaviour. 'At around eight units most people will experience a hangover.' The NHS recommends drinking no more than 14 units per week, spread over three or more days, which is the equivalent to roughly six and a half standard glasses of wine. One unit equals 10ml of pure alcohol, which is the amount of booze the body can process in an hour. 'After eight units, your vision and sleep will be affected and you will have consumed more alcohol than your liver can process in one night, resulting in symptoms the following day,' Dr Sha warned. Despite various products being marketed as hangover cures, Dr Sha explained that there is very little evidence that a person can speed up how quickly their body processes alcohol—meaning the damaging effects are almost guaranteed. 'After 12 units, you are at great risk of alcohol poisoning,' she added. This can occur when alcohol is consumed quicker than the body can process it, resulting in confusion, vomiting, loss of conscious, breathing difficulties and even seizures. Left untreated, this can progress and cause liver and heart failure, and even death. This is usually caused by binge drinking, a term used to refer to when a lot of alcohol is consumed in one drinking session. It comes as the latest ONS figures shows alcohol related deaths have soared to a record high in Britain, with more than 10,000 fatalities related to drinking in 2023. The NHS states there is no 'safe' drinking level, with people who regularly drink more than 14 units a week at higher risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease, liver disease and brain damage. The NHS recommends that adults drink no more than 14 units each week – that's 14 single shots of spirit, six pints of beer or a bottle and a half of wine But, up to one in four adults in England report drinking over this level. Earlier this year, scientists highlighted a simple test that can point to a 'hidden' drinking problem, amid a rise in alcohol-related deaths post-pandemic. Medics have previously warned that many drinkers fail to recognise they have a problem because their body hasn't yet become reliant on alcohol, which causes telltale signs such as shakes. However, there is a simple test that doctors use to spot a hidden, 'functioning' alcoholic. Called the CAGE test, the tool involves asking the patient four key questions about their drinking habits. The questions include the following: Have you ever felt you needed to cut down your drinking? Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt guilty about drinking? Do you need to drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or lessen a hangover? Experts say answering 'yes' to two or more of these questions means a patient could have a drinking problem. Those concerned they may have a problem with alcohol should visit their GP, who can make an assessment and refer them to specialist clinics for counselling and help with withdrawal.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
M&S releases ‘punishment juice' for health-conscious consumers
Marks & Spencer has been criticised for calling its latest health drink 'punishment juice'. The retailer released the seven-vegetable, cold-pressed drink last week but marketing experts said the name felt like 'a throwback to an outdated diet culture'. The 250ml bottles, which contain the 'superfoods' spirulina and hemp, as well as cucumber, spinach, celery, lime, kale, aloe vera, mint and parsley juice, became available in stores on Wednesday at a price of £2.25. M&S said the product was 'fresh-tasting' and 'healthy' and described the unusual name as 'disruptive' but others accused the company of being irresponsible. Rebecca Hopwood, the director of the marketing agency Youbee Media, said: 'Framing something genuinely healthy that's one of your five a day as 'punishment' undermines the positive steps many people and brands are trying to take towards better overall physical and mental health.
